I couldn't believe I was going to be late. I speed-walked down the sidewalk, trying not to run and incredibly aware of how sweaty and red-faced I was already going to be. I had been ready an hour ago in my favorite good luck dress, but of course Popov decided to throw me a last minute curveball that had me scrambling. Of course I was going to be late, and of course it was for a date that I was really looking forward to. I mean, this guy seemed great, almost too good to be true. Especially in the middle of a pandemic, where the dating scene was more and more like the Wild West every day, and most of the time it just wasn’t worth putting your life at risk to meet a stranger. But there was something about this guy that told me he’d be worth the risk. Maybe it was all the crossover we had, from theater and restaurants to a love for travel and a childhood growing up in the Bay Area. Maybe it was the great banter we already had, or the fact that he spelled my name correctly on the first try. Maybe it was that video of him playing a piano piece that he had written that made my jaw drop. Maybe it was just those gorgeous eyes. Whatever it was, it had me practically sprinting to Destroyer, the restaurant around the corner from me that he had graciously picked out and driven all the way over to. And I was going to be late! I quickly sent him a text letting him know I was on my way and that I might be sweating. “Glistening”, he corrected me. As I rounded the corner I got one more text. “I see the hair ;)” And then I was there. And he was there. And he was actually as charming and funny and kind and tall and handsome as he seemed. We proceeded to order our drinks and the Icelandic bread and found a spot to sit outside. And while I’m sure the gourmet bread was delicious, we now jokingly now call it Lava bread because we were so engrossed in conversation that we failed to eat it until it eventually turned rock hard. This theme of being more interested in the company than the food would continue for several more dates and lead us both to (very incorrectly) believe the other didn’t like food that much. Our coffee date turned into hours. We walked around my neighborhood of Culver City where I showed him all my favorite spots and where I’d worked. We stopped in a furniture store and had a fake argument about textiles. We walked right by my house and said hello to my neighbor, but I didn’t tell him I lived there, just in case. We debated which day was the best for farmers markets, and he let slip that I was going to love the Eastside. When we finally made our way back to his car, hours later, we shared a first kiss for the records. Lucky dress indeed. I walked home completely incapable of removing the smile from my face and called my sister to tell her about the date. When I walked in the door my roommate Ciara asked me, “How was it?” I laughed a little and said jokingly, “I think I’m going to marry this man”.

Step 1 - Three months out, text a wholesale jeweler 79 times until they hate you, but then create the most stunning custom engagement ring. Step 2 - Hide the ring. Under a desk where the cords are stored is perfect. Step 3 - Plan a romantic trip back to the place where you first said “I love you”, but then propose an even more romantic trip immediately after so she doesn't get suspicious. Step 4 - Be prepared to give zero hints. Shrug and say whatever you want when she asks “Should I get my nails done?” Step 5 - Have excuses ready for why you “seem stressed out”. Exhausted from work works great. Step 6 - Decide which pocket you want to pull the ring from. Then change your mind. Then change your mind 3 more times and decide to put it back in the original said pocket. Step 7 - Trust you’ll know the spot to propose to her when you see it. Step 8 - Embrace all imperfections. The rain. The grey sky. The scrappy stretch of road carved as a lookout over the Colombia Gorge River. The sign that used to say Cape Horn but now has a “Y” graffitiied at the end of it. It’s perfect. Because we’re perfect– together. Step 9 - Forget the speech you wrote on your Iphone notes. Forget the tripod setup that she vetoed because she has no idea what's about to happen. Just riff. Speak from your heart. Step 10 - Remember her face. How beautiful she is. How crimson her hair looks even when it’s matted with mist. How she makes you laugh. How she lights up a room. How she’s so ready to be your forever person. How she can’t stop crying because she’s so happy. How she’ll clutch that ring tighter than you can imagine. How she’ll love you the way you’ve been waiting to be loved your whole life. How much you love her even more.